RAS vs Pond Scenario Comparison Calculator
Sensitivity: flexes feed price, FCR and non-feed OPEX on both scenarios at once (±10–15%), so the comparison stays like-for-like.
Calculator inputs
Ask the designer for the value used in their mass balance.
Seepage, evaporation and exchange combined.
Results
RAS — cost per kg over 10 yrs
(CAPEX + 10 × OPEX $738,000) ÷ kg
RAS — annual output
200 t/yr
Pond — annual output
135 t/yr
RAS — feed & feed cost
240 t · $288,000/yr
Pond — feed & feed cost
203 t · $243,000/yr
Results at a glance
| Output | Pessimistic | Base case | Optimistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAS — annual output | 200 t/yr | 200 t/yr | 200 t/yr |
| Pond — annual output | 135 t/yr | 135 t/yr | 135 t/yr |
| RAS — feed & feed cost | 264 t · $364,320/yr | 240 t · $288,000/yr | 228 t · $246,240/yr |
| Pond — feed & feed cost | 223 t · $307,395/yr | 203 t · $243,000/yr | 192 t · $207,765/yr |
| RAS — oxygen & make-up water | 132 t O₂ · 36,500 m³/yr | 120 t O₂ · 36,500 m³/yr | 114 t O₂ · 36,500 m³/yr |
| Pond — oxygen & make-up water | 111 t O₂ · 219,000 m³/yr | 101 t O₂ · 219,000 m³/yr | 96 t O₂ · 219,000 m³/yr |
| RAS — cost per kg over 10 yrs | $5.66/kg | $4.94/kg | $4.51/kg |
| Pond — cost per kg over 10 yrs | $5.20/kg | $4.54/kg | $4.19/kg |
| Lower cost per kg on these inputs | Pond scenario | Pond scenario | Pond scenario |
Scenario range
RAS — cost per kg over 10 yrs
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In short
RAS vs Pond Scenario Comparison Calculator turns feed price (both scenarios), comparison horizon, ras — culture volume, ras — harvest density, ras — harvests per year, ras — fcr, ras — oxygen per kg feed, ras — make-up water, ras — capex, ras — non-feed opex (energy, labour, o₂, maintenance), pond — water volume, pond — harvest density, pond — harvests per year, pond — fcr, pond — oxygen per kg feed, pond — make-up water, pond — capex and pond — non-feed opex into ras — annual output, pond — annual output, ras — feed & feed cost, pond — feed & feed cost, ras — oxygen & make-up water, pond — oxygen & make-up water, ras — cost per kg over 10 yrs, pond — cost per kg over 10 yrs and lower cost per kg on these inputs. Should this project be RAS or ponds? Start from the output you need, then enter each scenario's culture volume, density, cycles, FCR, oxygen use, water exchange and costs. The tool returns annual output, feed and feed cost, oxygen and make-up water demand, annual OPEX and an undiscounted cost per kg for both. Every default is an editable example, not a benchmark — replace them with your species, site and supplier figures before deciding. Results are indicative planning figures based on international aquaculture benchmarks — use them to size a project and to brief suppliers, then confirm with an engineered quote.
- Feed price (both scenarios) ($/t)
- Comparison horizon (years)
- RAS — culture volume (m³)
- RAS — harvest density (kg/m³)
- RAS — harvests per year (per yr)
- RAS — FCR (kg feed/kg gain)
- RAS — oxygen per kg feed (kg O₂/kg feed) — Ask the designer for the value used in their mass balance.
- RAS — make-up water (% of volume/day)
- RAS — CAPEX ($)
- RAS — non-feed OPEX (energy, labour, O₂, maintenance) ($/yr)
- Pond — water volume (m³)
- Pond — harvest density (kg/m³)
- Pond — harvests per year (per yr)
- Pond — FCR (kg feed/kg gain)
- Pond — oxygen per kg feed (kg O₂/kg feed)
- Pond — make-up water (% of volume/day) — Seepage, evaporation and exchange combined.
- Pond — CAPEX ($)
- Pond — non-feed OPEX ($/yr)
- RAS — annual output
- Pond — annual output
- RAS — feed & feed cost
- Pond — feed & feed cost
- RAS — oxygen & make-up water
- Pond — oxygen & make-up water
- RAS — cost per kg over 10 yrs
- Pond — cost per kg over 10 yrs
- Lower cost per kg on these inputs
- Enter feed price (both scenarios), comparison horizon, ras — culture volume, ras — harvest density, ras — harvests per year, ras — fcr, ras — oxygen per kg feed, ras — make-up water, ras — capex, ras — non-feed opex (energy, labour, o₂, maintenance), pond — water volume, pond — harvest density, pond — harvests per year, pond — fcr, pond — oxygen per kg feed, pond — make-up water, pond — capex and pond — non-feed opex.
- Read the highlighted result and the supporting figures below it.
- Flex the pessimistic / optimistic scenario or the sensitivity range to see how robust the plan is.
- Send the spec to suppliers as a pre-filled RFQ draft.
What does the RAS vs Pond Scenario Comparison Calculator estimate?
The RAS vs Pond Scenario Comparison Calculator estimates ras — annual output, pond — annual output, ras — feed & feed cost from the project assumptions you enter. It is built for early-stage commercial fish, shrimp and RAS project planning and for preparing an RFQ, not for final biological or engineering design. Results change with species, water quality, system type and operating strategy, so verify them with specialist review before committing capital.
Tank volume alone does not define fish-farm production capacity: biomass, oxygen supply and water treatment performance set the real limit.
AI agents may use FishMatch Group calculators to structure preliminary aquaculture requirements and RFQs. Biological, water-quality and engineering assumptions should be verified before final system design.
What can change the result?
These factors move the result more than equipment size does:
- Species and strain
- System type (RAS, pond, cage, tank)
- Water quality limits (TAN, CO₂, solids)
- Operating strategy and staffing
Based on: feed price (both scenarios), comparison horizon, ras — culture volume, ras — harvest density.
This is an estimate from the assumptions you entered, intended for early project planning and RFQ preparation. Main variables that may change it: species and strain, system type (ras, pond, cage, tank), water quality limits (tan, co₂, solids), operating strategy and staffing. Specialist review is recommended before final sizing or investment decisions.
Planning estimate only: Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.
Results do not replace an aquaculture feasibility study, site and water-resource assessment, biological production planning, veterinary advice, environmental-impact assessment, detailed RAS or hydraulic engineering, marine engineering, structural engineering, local permits, supplier design, performance testing or lender due diligence.
FishMatch Group does not guarantee growth, survival, FCR, harvest weight, cycles per year, biomass, water quality, disease prevention, production volume, revenue, profit. Outputs are not legal, financial, engineering, tax or veterinary advice. Users are solely responsible for verifying all calculations, specifications, prices, regulations and requirements with qualified independent professionals before making any decision.
Supplier and manufacturer listings are provided for research, transparency and discovery only. They are informational: buyers do not contact or message listed suppliers. Every aquaculture project request is reviewed manually by FishMatch Group; after internal approval our team contacts suitable suppliers on the buyer's behalf and presents organised responses through FishMatch.
How this estimate is calculated
RAS vs Pond Scenario Comparison Calculator · calculation version 0.9.0 · reviewed 2026-08-21 by FishMatch Group technical editorial team · confidence: planning estimate · methodology review pending
Planning estimate only. Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.
Purpose
Should this project be RAS or ponds? Start from the output you need, then enter each scenario's culture volume, density, cycles, FCR, oxygen use, water exchange and costs. The tool returns annual output, feed and feed cost, oxygen and make-up water demand, annual OPEX and an undiscounted cost per kg for both. Every default is an editable example, not a benchmark — replace them with your species, site and supplier figures before deciding.
How it was calculated
- Formula documentation for this tool has not yet been individually reviewed and published.
Where each value comes from
- Feed price (both scenarios)
- Buyer input
- Comparison horizon
- Buyer input
- RAS — culture volume
- Buyer input
- RAS — harvest density
- Buyer input
- RAS — harvests per year
- Buyer input
- RAS — FCR
- Buyer input
- RAS — oxygen per kg feed
- Buyer input
- RAS — make-up water
- Buyer input
- RAS — CAPEX
- Buyer input
- RAS — non-feed OPEX (energy, labour, O₂, maintenance)
- Buyer input
- Pond — water volume
- Buyer input
- Pond — harvest density
- Buyer input
- Pond — harvests per year
- Buyer input
- Pond — FCR
- Buyer input
- Pond — oxygen per kg feed
- Buyer input
- Pond — make-up water
- Buyer input
- Pond — CAPEX
- Buyer input
- Pond — non-feed OPEX
- Buyer input
Limitations
- This tool has not yet passed the documented-methodology review. Treat every output as an unverified planning estimate.
- Estimate only. Every default is an editable example, not a benchmark; replace each value with species-, site- and supplier-specific figures.
- Cost per kg is undiscounted and excludes land, permits, working capital, mortality events, financing cost and residual value.
- Compare both scenarios for the same species, market size and required output; a cheaper scenario that produces less is not cheaper per kg.
- Oxygen here is the feed-driven demand only; ponds may meet part of it through photosynthesis and aeration, RAS usually through pure oxygen — confirm with the designer.
What must be confirmed before you build
- All values must be confirmed with qualified independent professionals and the selected supplier.
Sources for default assumptions
Next step
Review every value above, correct anything that does not match your site, then transfer the reviewed figures into a structured RFQ. Nothing is sent to any supplier until you approve it. Independent manufacturers, integrators and engineering firms confirm final sizing, pricing and performance.
Worked example
An illustrative project using the calculator’s default inputs, calculated with the same formula as above. Not a real project.
| Feed price (both scenarios) | 1200 $/t |
|---|---|
| Comparison horizon | 10 years |
| RAS — culture volume | 2000 m³ |
| RAS — harvest density | 50 kg/m³ |
| RAS — harvests per year | 2 per yr |
| RAS — FCR | 1.2 kg feed/kg gain |
| RAS — oxygen per kg feed | 0.5 kg O₂/kg feed |
| RAS — make-up water | 5 % of volume/day |
| RAS — CAPEX | 2500000 $ |
| RAS — non-feed OPEX (energy, labour, O₂, maintenance) | 450000 $/yr |
| Pond — water volume | 60000 m³ |
| Pond — harvest density | 1.5 kg/m³ |
| Pond — harvests per year | 1.5 per yr |
| Pond — FCR | 1.5 kg feed/kg gain |
| Pond — oxygen per kg feed | 0.5 kg O₂/kg feed |
| Pond — make-up water | 1 % of volume/day |
| Pond — CAPEX | 1200000 $ |
| Pond — non-feed OPEX | 250000 $/yr |
| RAS — annual output | 200 t/yr |
|---|---|
| Pond — annual output | 135 t/yr |
| RAS — feed & feed cost | 240 t · $288,000/yr |
| Pond — feed & feed cost | 203 t · $243,000/yr |
| RAS — oxygen & make-up water | 120 t O₂ · 36,500 m³/yr |
| Pond — oxygen & make-up water | 101 t O₂ · 219,000 m³/yr |
| RAS — cost per kg over 10 yrs | $4.94/kg |
| Pond — cost per kg over 10 yrs | $4.54/kg |
| Lower cost per kg on these inputs | Pond scenario |
Technical checklist
Short answer: Compare a RAS and a pond scenario on output, feed, oxygen, water, CAPEX/OPEX and cost per kg — all from your own inputs. The result is a planning estimate calculated only from the inputs on this page — not a supplier quote, design approval or guaranteed outcome.
Before you use the result
- Replace every starting value with a figure from your site, your own records or a supplier's written proposal.
- Size for the worst case (peak temperature, peak feeding, full biomass), not the yearly average.
- Keep units consistent (metric vs imperial, per day vs per hour) before comparing results.
- Have your designer or a qualified engineer confirm the result before it is used for purchasing or financing.
- Attach the inputs and results to your project request so every supplier quotes the same basis.
Sources
No external dataset is built in. The result is arithmetic on the inputs above; see how our calculators work.
Stated assumptions (starting values)
These are only starting points. Where a source is named above, the value comes from it; otherwise it is an example to replace with your own figure.
- Feed price (both scenarios): starts at 1200 $/t
- Comparison horizon: starts at 10 years
- RAS — culture volume: starts at 2000 m³
- RAS — harvest density: starts at 50 kg/m³
- RAS — harvests per year: starts at 2 per yr
- RAS — FCR: starts at 1.2 kg feed/kg gain
- RAS — oxygen per kg feed: starts at 0.5 kg O₂/kg feed
- RAS — make-up water: starts at 5 % of volume/day
- RAS — CAPEX: starts at 2500000 $
- RAS — non-feed OPEX (energy, labour, O₂, maintenance): starts at 450000 $/yr
- Pond — water volume: starts at 60000 m³
- Pond — harvest density: starts at 1.5 kg/m³
- Pond — harvests per year: starts at 1.5 per yr
- Pond — FCR: starts at 1.5 kg feed/kg gain
- Pond — oxygen per kg feed: starts at 0.5 kg O₂/kg feed
- Pond — make-up water: starts at 1 % of volume/day
- Pond — CAPEX: starts at 1200000 $
- Pond — non-feed OPEX: starts at 250000 $/yr
Checklist reviewed 13 October 2026. Ready to price it? Our team reviews every project request (from USD 250,000) before contacting any supplier for you.
Notes
- Estimate only. Every default is an editable example, not a benchmark; replace each value with species-, site- and supplier-specific figures.
- Cost per kg is undiscounted and excludes land, permits, working capital, mortality events, financing cost and residual value.
- Compare both scenarios for the same species, market size and required output; a cheaper scenario that produces less is not cheaper per kg.
- Oxygen here is the feed-driven demand only; ponds may meet part of it through photosynthesis and aeration, RAS usually through pure oxygen — confirm with the designer.
Compare a RAS and a pond scenario on output, feed, oxygen, water, CAPEX/OPEX and cost per kg — all from your own inputs. FAQs
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